The Resurrection of Our Lord- The Small Catechism- Luther's Flood Prayer (cont'd)

"Pour out your Holy Spirit, the power of your living Word, that those who are washed in the waters of baptism may be given new life."

Today we celebrate new life!  The long road from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday has come to an end.  Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Today, in churches throughout the world, baptisms are taking place.  New life is given.  This is possible because the tomb could not hold Jesus.  The power of God raised him up, declaring that sin and death do not have the final say.  What appears as an end, is only the beginning.  Death is transformed to eternal life with God.  Alleluia!  The devotion suggests that because of the resurrection, we are given new wings.  We take flight, so to speak.  But the author also reminds us, "it is God's wings, not our own, that hold us up."  We will continue to fight against the "old Adam" within, the sin and death that binds us.  But God has already won the victory.  We are set free to love God and one another until that day when we, too, are called to enter God's eternal kingdom.

Thanks you for following my thoughts throughout our 2017 Lenten journey.  I've enjoyed revisiting Luther's Small Catechism during this 500th anniversary year.  His words still speak to us and help us understand the essentials of the Christian faith.  God's blessings as you continue to celebrate the good news of the resurrection throughout the Easter season!